A PowerPoint Presentation by Melina Seyfollahzadeh, Grants & Public Participation Manager delivered during the Information Management & Public Participation Workshop in Transboundary Water Cooperation last June 2005 in St. Petersburg. Topics presented include: (1) Caspian Environment Programme (CEP) Achievements, (2) Objectives, (3) Activities, (4) Strategy, (5)Intervention and (6) Challenges

1. Caspian Environment Programme
Public Participation
Melina Seyfollahzadeh
Grants & Public Participation Manager
Information Management & Public Participation Wksp in
Transboundary Water Cooperation
June 2005 - St. Petersburg

2. Caspian Environment Programme
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
• Caspian Environment Programme ( CEP)
- inter-governmental umbrella Environmental Programme
- assisted by International partners
- safeguarding the marine environment of the Caspian Sea
• Funded by GEF/EU TACIS/Industry
• CEP launched in 1998 in Ramsar
• Started in 1999 in Baku
• Programme Coordination Unit (PCU) first in Baku and now in
Tehran
• Works with countries through national Focal Points (NFPS)

3. Caspian Environment Programme
ACHIEVEMENTS
Regional coordination mechanism and dialogue
Framework Convention (Tehran Convention)
Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA)
National Caspian Action Plans (NCAPs)
Strategic Action Programme (SAP) - SAPICs
Matched Small Grants Programme
Priority Investment

4. Caspian Environment Programme &
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
OBJECTIVE
Enhanced and Informed Stakeholders & inter-
sectoral participation in the management of the
Caspian environment
• CEP places emphasis on Public Participation
• In the Project Document Phase I and II
• Highlighted in the Strategic Action Programme (SAP)

5. Caspian Environment Programme &
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION TEAM
•Matched Small Grants and Public Participation
Advisors (MPPAs) in each Caspian countries;
•Two persons in Programme Coordination Unit
•Stakeholder Analysis Advisor
•International Public Participation Advisor (IPPA)
•Caspian Concern Groups (CCG)

6. Caspian Environment Programme &
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
ACTIVITIES
 Background Analysis
- Ground Truthing (GT)
- Stakeholder Analysis (SHA)
 Strategy Setting
- Formulation of Public Participation Strategy (PPS)
 Public Awareness
- Website, E-Bulletin, Brochure, Booklet, Databases (Media, NGO,
…), Networking (NGO, Media), Public Awareness Campaigns
(POPs, EcoNet, …), Educational Posters, Promotional Items
 Grants
- Matched Small Grants Programme (MSGP)
- Micro Environment Programme (MEG)

7. Caspian Environment Programme &
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION STRATEGY
 Process
- Participatory
- Drafting
- PCU Discussion
- Consultation/discussion at regional/national/local
level:
- Final regional feedback
- Principal agreements
 Regional Ownership
- Voluntary Guidelines/Strategy
- Flexible framework

8. Caspian Environment Programme &
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION STRATEGY
 Objectives
• Generally, facilitate the establishment of an effective
mechanism for public participation in environment
management of the Caspian Sea
• Specifically, involve public in decision-making,
planning/design, policy formulation, implementation &
monitoring of CEP activities
 Pillars
 Awareness raising and facilitating a systematic and transparent
information flow
 establishing and strengthening the legal and institutional basis
for participation

9. Caspian Environment Programme &
INTERVENTIONS
Interventions
Issues at different levels
Actions to be taken
Stakeholders involved
Levels:
-Regional
-National
-Local
Stages:
-Diagnostic
-Design
-Implementation
-Monitoring

10. Caspian Environment Programme &
Public Participation Strategy
Objectives Pillars Interventions
PP
Mechanism
Awareness
raising/Info
flow
Public
Involvement
Capacity
Building
Interventions
at different
stages and
different
levels
Monitoring
-NGOs
-CEP
-Secretariat of Convention

11. Public Participation
CHALLENGES
• New in the region
• Has to be bought by the Govts
• Capacity Building issues
• Language barrier
• Networking issues
• Budget Constrains

12. Caspian Environment Website
WEBSITE
www.caspianenvironment.org